I've never defoliated because I've never needed to. The plants I grow almost always have a very low leaf-to-bud ratio to begin with....and then, I also let my plants grow a long time and they almost always turn yellow and drop the leaves as they ripen. Or, they come off with the slightest tug. I feel like the plants are using whatever is left in those leaves and when the leaves become used up, then the plant sheds them. This also allows the flowers more exposure to light and airflow, too, so it seems like a natural design. By the time, I chop and hang the plants, there's really not a lot of trimming left.